My latest Wired article is now online and on the newsstands. It’s about the messiness of experimental science, the blind-spots created by knowledge, Thorstein Veblen, European Jews and the background static created by the Big Bang.

It’s not easy to think on the margin when you’ve been working in the middle. Dunbar’s E. coli team probably needed weeks of neurotransmitter-draining work before the correct resonant pattern could assert itself against all expectations.

I liked the data on the cingulate gyrus, which I couldn’t document ten years ago. Thanks!

great article. especially loved the part about metaphors and analogies….it almost felt like it was another article at that point. would like to hear you talk/investigate more about the creation of a “specialized language” and how using metaphors and analogies facilitate outside thinking…

how do you deal with the “scientists” that subscribe to wired? their comments are intolerable (almost as bad as youtubers). someone went on a tirade about the process of dunbar’s ball experiment. geez, dunbar informing the subjects of density and the environment of the balls dropping was immaterial to seeing how the brain behaves to view the information it’s given. that’s what he was really testing. although, i would avoid using the word “squirt” next time. and the “programmer” who accused you of not knowing how the scientific process works…i’m not scientist, but i at least know he missed the point.

sorry, i’m getting all riled up, for you.

anyways, great article. enjoyed the avatar post, too

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